646 PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDSN PLANTS teachelospermum 



V. media (F. acutiflora). — A native of 

 the Mediterranean region, with flowerless 

 stems trailing, the others bearing the 

 flowers erect and a foot or more high. 

 Leaves ovate-eUiptic, narrowed at both 

 ends, shining green, 1-2 in. long. Flowers 

 in August, blue, with obliquely ovate 

 pointed lobes. Besides the names given 

 above, this species is also known as V. 

 difformis. 



CiMure dc. as above. 



V. minor. — This is similar to V. 

 'major, but has much smaller leaves and 

 flowers, the latter only about 1 in. across. 

 There are also white- and red-flowered 

 varieties, and others with varying shades 

 of violet and pm^le, as well as one with 

 double flowers, in white and blue. There 

 are forms also with silver and golden 

 variegated leaves. 



Culture it-c. as above. 



APOCYNUM (Dog's Bane). — A 

 genus of erect perennial or sub-shrubby, 

 often glaucescent herbs, with opposite 

 penniveined leaves, and small flowers in 

 dense cymes or loose corymbs at the ends 

 of the branches, or axils of the leaves. 

 Calyx deeply 5-lobed. Corolla bell-shaped 

 with 5 triangular appendages or scales at 

 the mouth of the tube. Fruit of 2 slender 

 follicles. Seeds feathery at one end. 



Five or six species belong to this 

 genus, but the following is the only one 

 worthy of garden notice. A. cwnnahinunn 

 from N. America and A. venetum from 

 the Mediterranean region are, however, 

 occasionally seen in botanical collections. 



A. androssemifolium. — A very old gar- 

 den plant, having been introduced from 

 Virginia about 1683. It grows 1-2 ft. 

 high, and has ovate stalked leaves, smooth 

 shining green above, pale beneath. 

 Flowers in July, bell-shaped, pale red 

 with purple stripes. 



Culture and Propagation. — This 

 plant flourishes in peaty soil and may be 

 grown in borders with Kalmias, Azaleas, 

 and other peat-loving plants. It may be 

 increased by division in spring, just as 

 growth is about to begin. Seeds, if ob- 

 tainable, should be sown as soon as ripe 



in cold frames in peaty soil. The seed- 

 lings should be pricked out when large- 

 enough, and may be transferred to the 

 open border in mild weather in spring. 



TRACHELOSPERMUM.— A small 

 genus of smooth or sUghtly downy climb- 

 ing shrubs with' opposite leaves and loose 

 cymes of white flowers borne at the ends ■ 

 of the shoots or near the axUs of the leaves. 

 Calyx small, 5-parted, furnished with 5-10' 

 small scales or glands within. Corolla 

 salver-shaped, with a cylindrical tube ex- 

 panded about the middle and constricted 

 at the throat, and 5 twisted oblong lobes- 

 Stamens 5. Disc annular, truncate, or 

 5-lobed. Carpels 2, distinct. Follicles 

 elongated, slender, incurved, terete. 



T. jasminoides (Bhynchospermum jas- 

 minoides). — A beautiful slender climbing 

 evergreen shrub, native of China and 

 Japan although known as the ' Cape Jessa- 

 mine.' The branches, which discharge a 

 milky juice when cut, have the pecuharity 

 of emitting roots in the same way as Ivy 

 stems when they come in contact with 

 the earth or moist surfaces. The leaves ■ 

 are oval lance-shaped, deep green, and 

 quite smooth, although the young stems 

 are slightly downy. The white salver- 

 shaped flowers appear in summer, and are 

 deliciously sweet-scented. There is a 

 variety called angustifolium with smaller 

 and narrower leaves than the tj-pe, but 

 not quite so free flowering. There is also 

 a form in which the leaves are variegated 

 with white, but it is less hardy and not so 

 vigorous as the others. 



Culture and Propagation. — Although 

 treated as a greenhouse plant when first 

 introduced in 1846, this pretty plant has 

 been proved quite hardy in the southern 

 and milder portions of the kingdom, and 

 will succeed in the open air almost as far 

 as the Midlands if grown on a south wall. 

 It enjoys a rich sandy loam and peat, 

 thoroughly well drained, as stagnant 

 moisture is hurtful to the roots especially 

 in winter. It may be increased by cut- 

 tings of the young or half -ripened shoots- 

 inserted in sandy soil under handlights, , 

 and kept shaded and close for a time 

 during the early summer months. 



LXXIII. ASCLEPIADEiE— Stephanotis Order 



An order consisting of perennial herbs, shrubs, or undershrubs, of twining or 

 prostrate habit, often with milky juice. Leaves opposite, or very rarely 

 alternate or verticillate, without stipules. Flowers hermaphrodite, regular. 



